The mind is like a well-forged sword - it adapts to all situations.

True happiness is born of letting go of what is unnecessary.

Expectations are the thieves of joy.

Mindfulness is being aware of what is happening right now, without wishing it were different.

The instant you speak about a thing, you miss the mark.

Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.

Altruism is not a luxury, it is a necessity for the survival of humanity.

All that appears and exists, all of samsara and nirvana, has one ground, two paths, and two results. This is the magical display of awareness and unawareness.

To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest.

Zen in its essence is the art of seeing into the nature of one's own being, and it points the way from bondage to freedom.

Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.

As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting mind.

People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.

The past is just a memory. The future is just a dream. Be here now.

The mind that sees its own nature becomes free from all extremes.

When you realize how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.

The greatest obstacle to connecting with our joy is resentment.

The root of suffering is resisting the certainty that no matter what the circumstances, uncertainty is all we truly have.

One moment can change a day, one day can change a life, and one life can change the world.

The essence of all phenomena is empty and clear like space. The nature of mind is awareness-emptiness like the sun and sky.

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.

Every being has the potential of becoming a Buddha. Our true nature is Buddha nature.

The practice of vipassana is the study of the self. When you study physical and mental phenomena, you are studying the truth about yourself.

When you do something, you should burn yourself completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.

The difference between buddhas and sentient beings is that buddhas recognize their nature while sentient beings fail to recognize it.

The truth of suffering is not to be feared but to be understood through direct observation.

Whoever told you that practice and enlightenment are separate?

The first step toward faith is to admit that we don't know everything.

The mind that notes and the object that is noted are both impermanent. Understanding this leads to liberation.

The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass.

The archer ceases to be conscious of himself as the one who is engaged in hitting the bull's-eye which confronts him. This state of unconsciousness is realized only when, completely empty and rid of the self, he becomes one with the perfecting of his technical skill.

When walking, just walk. When sitting, just sit. Above all, don't wobble.

Not knowing how near the truth is, we seek it far away.